Not a Safer Alternative to Cigarettes

Many people turn to electronic cigarettes because they believe that it is a safer alternative than traditional tobacco. However, as many people are finding out, this is not quite the case. Instead, e-cigarettes injured many people across the country recently.

The Huffington Post reported on a case in New York City. A 31-year-old man’s pants exploded due to an e-cigarette. Co-workers described the explosion as looking like the Fourth of July or “fireworks.” The e-cigarette had a high-voltage lithium-ion battery that has a bad tendency to explode. Many cell phones, including the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 have similar fire causes.

Earlier this month another man’s e-cigarette exploded on his person. The man was a nightclub owner in France. FoxNews reported on the case, also captured on video. His recollection of the explosion is harrowing: “All of a sudden I heard a loud bang and a noise like a flare had gone off, only ten times louder. And after the shock of the explosion, I realized that I had caught fire.” He said that pain came later.

According to NBC News, a Kentucky man faced a similar fate. The man suffered second-degree burns as his pants caught on fire due to the e-cigarette. This, too, was caught on video. An employee at the gas station asked him if he had a bomb in his pocket.

A Widening Trend

These increasing numbers of explosions linked to electronic cigarettes is a menace. Only increased concern and activism can reduce the number of future injuries caused by these fires.

There are options for the injured. Experienced attorneys that have taken on tobacco and paraphernalia companies can take care of the situation. Los Angeles accident attorney Michael Ehline has seen first hand the effects that such injuries have on people. He took on the large enterprises and won. He said that the increasing number of e-cigarette injuries should highlight the need for corporate responsibility.